—hybrid, or difficult to track; in EV racing it can be downright dizzying. ELECTRIC POWERdedicated— Which is why we’ve put together a list of seven key markers, has arrived with a vengeance for those who embrace not with help from our expert sources, that are noteworthy for their just winning, but also integrating on a level of widespread impact on the segment…and its future. responsible social consciousness. Indeed, that silent “whoosh” of the battery-reliant race car is 1 Toyota Hybrid Named “Race Car Of The Year” no longer preposterous for a reliable performance powertrain, The 2016 “Race Car of the Year” accolade from Professional as belief is building that electric motors have power potential Motorsport World Awards flowed from motorsport tech authorities to rival, or surpass, gas engines in motorsports. and auto journalists to salute Toyota Gazoo Racing’s race- After all, speed remains the bottom line. And electric winning TS050 hybrid. vehicles (EV), lest we forget, can accelerate from 0–60 mph A jolting signal of battery-supported recognition for the TS050 in one second. Just ask John Metric of the National Electric hybrid not only short-circuited piston-powered rivals, but also Drag Racing Association (NEDRA) in Muskegon, Michigan, served as a wake-up call of sorts that many a budget—OEM about his cracked sternum that testifies to the car’s brutal and race—were reshuffling to embrace the current trend and boost. “The radio control race car kid generation has grown expanding segment. up,” he observed. “The sound of a high-winding electric “The power and grip of the TS050 hybrid is incredible,” motor is the sound of efficient, high-torque acceleration. Our remarked Gazoo team driver José María López. “The hybrid production class welcomes Tesla, Nissan and Zero, while technology is impressive.” the conversion vehicles include Black Zombie, and Michel The team has since expanded its driver lineup for the 2017 Bertrand’s tri-motor Porsche Carrera. FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC) to campaign a “In our dragster class,” he continued, “you will find Bothell three-car TS050 stable. High School’s ‘Shock and Awe’ where ‘Big Daddy’ Don Garlits’ Swamp Rat 37 is the current quarter-mile record holder. We 2 Audi Redirects Path To Formula E also offer motorcycle classes where our first 200 mph record The OEM announced late last year that 2016 would be its final was set by Larry ‘Spiderman’ McBride.” season in sports car racing, signaling an end to its participation In racing circles, the pace of new development is oftentimes in the WEC, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans, as it instead 54 Performance Racing Industry | June 2017 Photo courtesy of Audi Motorsport DESIGN ENGINEERING INC. KEEPKEEP FUELFUEL COOL!COOL! NO MORE USING BLANKETS TO COVER FUEL CANS NO MORE MOVING FUEL CANS IN & OUT OF THE SHADE FUEL CAN COVERS Keeps fuel cool & stable Recommended by race fuel manufacturers Easy slip on/off Dealer & Distributor Inquiries Welcome 800-264-9472 Photo courtey of JEGS DesignEngineering.com June 2017 | www.performanceracing.com 55 redirects serious resources into the all- E holds its races on city streets, and electric UK-based FIA Formula E racing directly in front of fans, this rapidly series ahead of plans to offer electric evolving category is stoking new production models starting in 2018. popularity. “They witness how exciting To be sure, Audi management sees the and dynamic electric mobility can be,” E series as “the greatest potential for the he explained. “This platform is very well future,” and there is also talk of electrifying received by sponsors, manufacturers its rallycross cars. and many suppliers, and all have “On the road to a fully factory- the opportunity to demonstrate their backed commitment, Audi is using the competence in one of the most important 2017 season to learn more about the future areas.” world’s first fully electric racing series,” After Audi announced that 2016 would be its final said Stefan Moser, Head of Audi AG season in sports car racing, the OEM redirected 3 Fueling Technology Transfer Communications Motorsport, in Ingolstadt, its resources into the all-electric UK-based FIA It’s safe to say that the passenger car Germany, pointing out that the automaker Formula E, ahead of plans to offer electric pro- market is driving electric race car product is responsible for numerous motorsports duction models starting in 2018. Photo courtesy innovation. Racers and automakers have of Audi Motorsport. history bright marks, and intends to be a a symbiotic desire to gain the edge in disruptive force in electric racing. standards in circuit racing, and Audi was the advancement of motors, batteries, “Audi has consistently been using the first manufacturer to achieve victories safety, cooling systems, fire prevention motorsport to test and develop new with a turbocharged fuel stratified injection and weight reduction. One for glory, the technologies further for subsequent use (TFSI) engine, turbocharged direct other for sales. in production,” he continued. “Quattro injection (TDI) and a hybrid race car.” Audi’s Moser said, “It has long been drive revolutionized rally racing [and] set Moser concluded that because Formula an Audi tradition that motorsport is not 56 Performance Racing Industry | June 2017 Toyota received widespread recognition last year that the E Championship was designed to for its TS050 hybrid vehicle that races in the FIA serve as a primary platform for companies World Endurance Championship (WEC). In fact, it was named the 2016 “Race Car of the Year,” and manufacturers to develop alternative and the team has since expanded its WEC driver energy solutions, and showcase improved lineup, now campaigning a three-car stable of performance and efficiency that will filter TS050 hybrids. down to electric road vehicles. among prominent road car manufacturers. Mallinson points to a pair of electric “Something was missing to make concept cars doing just that: borrowing motorsport relevant to what is happening from Formula E cars. Aston Martin’s on the streets, the roads of our cities and RapidE integrates the same battery our countries—the electric car revolution,” technology from Williams Advanced revealed Sam Mallinson. “We are facing Engineering, and Renault’s Trezor uses a big change in the industry. We want to its championship-winning powertrain. accelerate change to play a role in one of “Pure electric racing is relevant to the run purely for marketing reasons, but the biggest challenges that we face: city future of energy and transport because to drive technical developments and pollution, and the even bigger challenge it will push the cars, the charging and innovations that will benefit the customers. of global warming. energy delivery technologies as part of In Formula E, this will affect all of the areas Now in its third season, the series our races,” said Mark Gemmell, CEO of mentioned: motor, battery, cooling, weight, consists of 12 rounds, with visits to Hong Electric GT (EGT) Championship, based but above all, efficiency.” Kong, Marrakesh, Buenos Aires, Mexico at Circuit Pau-Arnos in France. At its core, the Formula E Championship City, Monaco, New York City, and several is an electric-cars, perception-changing other street venues. 4 Adding EV Classes, Series platform aimed at attracting participation As the series matures, the fact remains An electric class was added to this June 2017 | www.performanceracing.com 57 year’s all-women, 1500-mile, off-road plugs for temporary charging conditions Rallye Aïcha des Gazelles du Maroc in France, Spain, Morocco, on the boat, that attracts racers from more than 30 on generator,” explained Larhrissi. different countries. Held in the Moroccan “We monitored charging speed, battery desert this past March, the “E-Gazelle” autonomy in different environments, class was aided by Solutions-VE by temperature, capacity of the vehicle, and providing a Citröen E-Mehari participating other parameters.” as an “unranked” team to investigate Larhrissi continued, “One special performance and capabilities under technological development from AR Auto the extreme conditions that will help was an adaptor that minimized the load on organizers go from “test mules” to generators when the car is being charged competition race cars. while maintaining energy efficiency. This An electric class was added to this year’s all- women, 1500-mile, off-road Rallye Aïcha des Skilled race strategists from 11 previous same adaptor is used to back up for the Gazelles du Maroc held in the Moroccan desert rallies, Nezha Larhrissi, from Rabat, poor quality and unstable electric ground in March. During the event, organizers of the Morocco, and Pilar Cabellos, who lives in remote areas of the desert.” “E-Gazelle” class were assisted by race strate- in Lancieux-Bretagne, France, assisted Meantime, Brian Gale, CEO and gists to develop a registry of requirements for a organizers in developing a registry of founder of Denver, Colorado-based full class launch in 2018. requirements for a full class 2018 launch. Speedleague, believes electric power is think more creatively about venues. “The Mehari was race hardened by particularly well suited to the rallycross My intention with E/RACING is to use adding an undercarriage protective plate, format of short-course racing. “Noise new technologies to revive our original and received a variety of new charging pollution and emissions can be a X Games rally car racing concept in cable adaptors for different electricity prohibiting factor,” he said. “Electric downtown areas, stadiums, beaches, sources during the race, and additional power provides us with the ability to deserts, snowy mountainsides, etc.” 58 Performance Racing Industry | June 2017 In fact, E/RACING will hold a new and energy forum, is a conference arena EV racing crowd would not sit and watch electric rallycross series beginning in for deeper discussions and analysis as a three-hour road course race unless it late October in Las Vegas, Nevada, with to our new energy future that also allows included new extreme technology.” additional events planned in Los Angeles, sponsors and partners to show their White pointed to last year’s EvGrand California, and New York City.